Splice lock for railroad rails



Nov. 17, 1931. D. J. MCGUIGAN 1,832,230

SPLICE LOCK FOR RAILROAD RAILS Filed April 23, 1951 2 Sheets-Shem 2 Inventor p mm A llomey Patented Nov. 17, 1931 entree 1 starts DANIEL J. MCGUIGAN, DETROIT, MICHIGAN SPLICE LOCK r011 RAI ROAD Rains Application filed April 23,

This invention relates to a splice lock for railroad rails, the general object of the invention belng to provide simple means for firmly locking together the adjacent ends of,

a pair of railroad rails.

This invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and specifically pointed out in the appended claim.

In describing the invention in detail, ref erence will bev had to the accompanying drawings wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which Figure l is a top plan view of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view through the bottom plate and showing the rail engaging portions attached thereto in elevation;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 1-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a view of the angle shaped washer.

Fig. 6 is a view of the wedge member.

In these drawings, the numeral 1 indicates an elongated plate adapted to be placed on a tie and having the notches 2 therein for receiving the spikes which connect the device to the tie. A rail engaging member 3 is formed on the plate 1 and has an opening 1 therein which separates the bottom part of the member 8 from the plate and is adapted to receive one-half of the base portion of the rails A. The inner wall of this member 3 abuts against the web of the rail and its top part is shaped to fit under the tread part of the rail. The inner wall is also provided with the circular projections 5 forentering holes 6 formed in the abutting ends of therails.

Adjacent the other end of the plate an upright 7 is formed thereon which is provided with a slot 8 on its inner face, the lower wall of which is in alinement with the top of the 1331. Serial No. 532,315.

what similar to the part 3 for engaging the I under partof the tread. the web and the other half ofthe base of each rail, but this part 10 is formed with a rib 11 on its outer face'which is directly opposite the rib 9 when the meinber 10 is'in position and said part is provided with 'a'plate-lilre extension 12 which rests on the plate 1 and has its outer edge engaging the slot s i After the member 10 is put in position, a wedge 13'isdriven' into the space formed by the upper face ofthe extension 10 and the adjacent faces of the parts 10 and 7' and under the ribs 9 and 11 so asto press the member 10 against the rails and thus clamp the adjacent ends of the rails between the said member 10 and the member .3 as clearly shown in Figs. 1'and2.

The small end of the wedge is provided with a threaded shank 14 which extends be yond one end of the device and the thread is adapted to pass thru a hole 15 in an angleshaped washer 17 and to receive a nut 18 so that by tightening the nut against the washer the wedge member is drawn tightly into the space between the parts 7 and 10 so as to wedge the part'lO firmly against the rails.

Each of the parts 7 and 10 has a small extension 19 at one end thereof against which the angle-shaped washer 15 bears, its perforate limb resting thereon as shown in Fig. 1.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the abutting ends of these two rails are firmly locked together by the device, so that there is no danger of the rail ends getting out of alinement and when it is desired to remove the rails the device can be easily and quickly detached from the rails by removing the wedge member 17 and lifting outthe member 10 so that the rails can be moved from under the part 3 and then lifted off the ties.

It is thought from the foregoing description that the advantages and novel features of the invention will'be readily apparent. 95

Itis to be understood that changes maybe made in the construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, provided that such changes fall within the scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is A splice lock for railroad rails comprising a plate, a rail engaging member connected with the plate and arranged adjacent one edge thereof, an upstanding member arranged adjacent the other end of the plate and having a recess in its inner face the bottom of which is flush with the top of the plate, a rib on the inner face of said upstanding member adjacent its upper end, a second rail engaging member located in the space between the upstanding memberand the first mentioned member and having a horizontal outwardly extending flange connected with the bottom part which rests on the plate and the free edge which enters the recess, a rib on the second rail engaging member located opposite the first mentioned rib, a wedge adapted to be driven between the upstanding member and the second rail engaging member for causing the two rail engaging members to clamp the abutting ends of the pair of rails between them said wedge having its top engaging two ribs with its bottom resting on the horizontal flange, a threaded extension on the small end of the wedge and a nut and washer on the threaded part, the washer engaging end parts of the upstanding member and the second rail engaging member for moving the wedge member into operating position when the nut is tightened.

In testimony whereof I afiix mv signature.

DANIEL J. MGGUIGAN. 

